I used a connection caterpillar for this Stuart light tank. It was built in December 2014.
This time, I chose U.S. Light Tank M5A1 Stuart. It seems more complicated than Tamiya’s M8 Howitzer.
The chassis box structure required cautious trial assembly. Anyway, in case there are small gaps, I use putty for them.
Photo-etched parts of metal mesh were so genuine. I attached them, but some angle was bent. I’ll fix them later. Parts are very detailed as a whole; it helps sharp molds.
The sprocket, road, and guide wheels can choose the early or late types. I chose the wheels of all late types. Early types had holes in the wheels, but late types were all filled.
(17-November-2014)
The attached wire is made of nylon. I’m worried about it, fuzz, but no problem.
I used 0.2mm metal wire for the antenna. Its delicate and metal parts are strong enough the handling while painting after this process.
This has been stocked for three years, M-5 light tank T36E6 track later type; this is the time I use it. Maybe a different appearance from the standard type of flat caterpillar attached to this kit.
It took more time than the Magic Track Dragon Models because it includes many sides connecting parts. Quickly fitting to the chassis and all fixed while checking the belt shape. It’s very smooth working when I glue only one of the two pins each; the temporary movable belt is changed.
Now the caterpillar is an appeal point. I didn’t attach side armors.
The Assembly process is complicated, especially for the chassis box part. Many parts are combined simultaneously, so we need a trial assembly. Front armor is welded, so if there’s a gap, we can recover it with putty.
Backshot before painting.
The tools attached to the side of the turret neatly are called additional grousers for going through the muddy or sandy loose area. They are attached to caterpillar treads. If we are all covered with grousers, there are no spare parts, so be careful not to lose small parts. I am sometimes searching and groveling on the floor with handling mag-light for tiny parts… But the winning percentage is 50%.
These photo-etched parts are effectively used. I want to request one more is the etching light guard parts.
I combined the Tamiya old figure with a resin head. The pose is a little awkward…, but anyway, OK, maybe after painting.
I used a resin head after a long interval; it’s very nice! Unfortunately, this figure has a helmet over his eyes, and it isn’t easy to show the expression.
(28-November-2014)
Attaching decals, I painted detailed parts and lightly washing on the whole body.
(06-December-2014)
The M5A1 Stuart light tank has two Cadillac water-cooled V8 gasoline engines, each having 110 horsepower. These are changed from the M3 diesel engine.
The 37mm antitank gun was powerless in Europe and North Africa but showed power in the first half of the Pacific front because Japanese tanks were not very strong. M5A1 produced approximately 6,800 in total, the number of the most productive of the light tank.
As I commented on the working memo, I used the optional parts of the T36E6-type caterpillar. It changed the tank image dynamic.
Full exposed caterpillar tracks are powerful and cool!!
Etching parts cutting edge was not so neatly trimmed, but after weathering the paint, maybe it’s OK.
Turret hatches can be wide open, but the inside is not detailed. I chose all hatches closed this time.
This tank was one of the 24th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division in Belgium, in 1944.
It may be a contradiction as the weathering of the hedge-low cutter is muddy, although I want to emphasize the metal color of the caterpillar. First, I painted the mud in chestnut and brown, but like the image of fighting in Indochina, after all, I re-painted it in sand color.
I have painted the hedge-low cutter with mud; another option is metal and rusty paint, which may be better.
Dry mud-like light brown sand was spotted on the front and steering wheels.
I made weathering paint hard or light for a feeling; this control is difficult every time.
Clear parts headlights shine when I light from the right in front. It’s a good accent for this mat and semi-gloss clear coating tank.
The expression is like an American tank crew coming out of a movie…
The helmet is over his eyes, so I took the photo from a lower angle.
When displaying them this way, the caterpillar is more appealing than the figure.
Back shot.
It’s a small vehicle with many detailed parts, and we can make the perfect shape M5A1 from this kit. Sometimes I was puzzled about the joint of parts, especially the chassis body box joint. It was a cool M5 full of exact feelings when completed.
(7-December-2014)
A reader told me of this blog that it’s not the 24th Armored Regiment of the 1st Armored Division in Belgium, but the 24th Lancers Regiment of the 1st Polish Armored Division in Belgium.
(2022/08/22)
